Weighing apparatus



Sept. 29, 1936. w. H. REES WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed April 2l, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l um mt INVENTOR. M//LL//QMHEE BY 6m ,j M

Sept. 29, 1936. W. H. REES 2,055,730

WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed April 2l, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to weighing apparatus, and particularly to a device for. automatically controlling and recording the operation of scales used to parcel bulk materials.

An object of my invention is the provision of means for automatically shutting olf the movement of materials onto a weighing device when a pre-selected weight is reached.

Another object is the provision of means for integrating or totalling the weights of the successive loads thus imposed on a weighing device.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the manner in which the electrical and mechanical interconnection within my device may be accomplished. v

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail of the lightsensitive cell housing.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of a weighing device showing the manner of attachment of the lightsensitive cell.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the device of Figure 3, and the plane of section is indicated by the line 4-4 of that i'lgure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the weighing device viewed as indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic wiring diagram for a variant type of amplifier and gate control.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a scale showing a variant shape for the pointer arm;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a I screw type of conveyor and hopper therefor.

Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram for an alternative type of amplifier.

Figure 10 is an elevation of a scale and loading chute having a variant type of gate control.

Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the indicating arm shown in Figure 10.

In terms of broad inclusion the apparatus of my invention comprises a weighing device and associated apparatus by means of which bulk materials may be parcelled into pre-selected amounts, and the weights of successive parcels totalled and recorded.

The bulk material preferably flows into a hopper or receptacle on the weighing device proper from a conveyor or gravity spout, and suitable means are provided for automatically controlling the flow of material therefrom in accordance with the movement or an element of the weighing device. A

The integration of the total weights of the successive loads is accomplished by causing the retrogressive movement of the weighing device to actuate a suitable integrating and counting mechanism which is normally disengaged from the weighing device, but which is automatically engaged for the retrograde movement by mechanism operable in time with the flow control means.

As thus broadly described the mechanism is similar to that disclosed in my United States Patent No. 1,615,405, dated January 25, 1927. My present invention however differs from the previous one in that the actuating impulse for the gate is obtained from the weighing device through the medium of a light-sensitive or photo-electric cell and a suitable amplier. The spark gap controlled actuating means of my earlier invention is suitable for the ordinary run of commercial work, but for rapidly operating and sensitive scales, such as those used for parcelling drugs or spices, or for use in an explosive atmosphere, or where the spark discharge would disturb adjacent radio apparatus, I may prefer to use the structure disclosed herein.

In terms of greater detail the weighing apparatus oi.' my present invention comprises a weighing device 2 which may be of any suitable construction such that the load thereon causes a proportional rotation of a shaft 3 journalled in a bearing 4 fixed on the device. The amount of rotation of the shaft 3 is indicated by a pointer or arm 6 fixed thereon and is preferably arranged to traverse a scale 'I which is calibrated to indicate the true weight in the usual manner.

Any desired type of conveyor, hopper, or receptacle may be used to retain the bulk material while it is being weighed and such retaining means or receptacle is accordingly shown only schematically as comprising a sack 8. It is understood, that the receptacle 8 is placed so that the weight of the material therein actuates the weighing device.

In Figures 1, 8 and 10 an arrangement is indicated for filling the receptacle 8 from a spout 9 through which bulk materials may flow from a suitable source of supply. In Figures 1 and 10 the flow from the spout is controlled by a gate II pivotally supported thereon by a bracket I2 and pinion or shaft I3. Closure of the gate I I is automatically initiated by the movement of the indicating arm 6 through the medium of one of two variant mechanisms now to be described. The construction of Figure 1 is suitable for comparatively large parcels of bulk materials where rapidity of operation and extreme accuracy are not essential. The construction of Figures 8 or 10 is preferable when speed uniformly ilowable materials the quick acting gate of Figure 1 may be adjusted to give amazingly accurate results, say to the order of .2%. but for irregular materials the slow closing gate l of Figure 10 is superior since it minimizes the errors due to dribble. In fact for materials that tend to agglomerate, such as raisins, it is still better to associate the control means with a type of positive feeding mechanism such as the screw conveyor of Figure 8.

Referring now to Figures l'to 5 inclusive the signal or impulse that starts the closing of the gate is initiated by the moving arm 6 which is mounted in a case I6 having a glass observation pane I1 set into one side, and an arcuate plate I8 slidably mounted on the other side in the arcuate guides I9. A set screw 2| threaded into a bracket 22 on the case and engaging the plate I8 provides means for holding that member in adjusted position. A light tunnel 23, preferably rectangular in shape, is provided on the plate I8 of a shape and in a position where it is fairly closely covered by the arm 6 at one point in its swing so that light is thus shut olf from a lightsensitive or photo-electric cell 24 which is mounted in an opaque case 26 supported by a nipple 21 inserted in a socket 28 fixed on plate I9 in the rear of the tunnel 23. By adjusting the position of plate I8 the photo-cell can be lplaced at any desired point in the swing of arm 6 corresponding to a weight on the weighing device at which the gate II is to be closed, and the electrical effect produced in the photo-cell by shutting off the light can be utilized to initiate the closing of the gate through the medium of apparatus now to be described.

The gate II is held in its open or raised position by a projecting finger 29 fixed thereon and engaging a sear 3| formed as an integral portion of a lever 32 pivotally mounted on a pin 33 xed in the standards 34 of a solenoid bracket 36. The sear 3| is normally held in its extended position by a spring 31 fastened between a rear standard 38 of bracket 36 and the upper end of lever 32. A solenoid 39 is xed on standard 38 in a position to attract an armature 4I fixed on the lower end of lever 32. Thus when the solenoid is energized it attracts armature 4I disengaging the sear 3| from finger 29 which permits the gate I I to drop and shut oi the flow of material from the spout, or chute 9. Solenoid 39 is energized through the conducting leads 42 and 43 which are connected respectively to a lead 44 of a suitable source ofelectric current, and a terminal 46 of a solenoid controlled relay. This relay comprises a coil 41 having a magnetic plunger 48 slidably mounted therein and actuating a contactor 49 adapted to connect terminal 46 to a terminal 5I which is in contact with the other lead 52 of the source of electric current. The relay is arranged so that contactor 49 is disengaged from the terminals when the coil 41 is energized by a certain amount, and so that the plunger will fall by gravity to close the contactor across the terminals when the current in coil 41 falls below a certain amount. Instead of relying upon the force of gravity to actuate-the plunger a spring, dashpot or other suitablemeans could be employed to press the contactor toward the terminals, as indicated schematically by the cantilever spring 59 mounted to press downward on plunger 48.

A photo-electric cell alone, as so far devised, does not supply suflicient energy to operate such a mechanical relay directly, and so, at present, it is necessary to provide a suitable current amplifler, identied by the general reference numeral 53, between the'photo-electric cell and the relay 'coil 41. For the purpose of illustration this amplifier is shown as comprising three triodes 64, 56 and 56 having the usual filaments 51 energized by batteries 68; plates or anodes 59 energized through resistors 6I by the batteries 62, 63, and 64 and control grids connected in a manner now to be described.

The photo-electric cell is energized by a battery 66 through a resistor 61 and the conducting leads 68 and 69. One terminal of resistor 61 is connected to the cathode of triode 56 through a conductor 1 I, and the other terminal is connected to the control grid 12 of triode 56 through a blocking condenser 13. With ordinary tubes there is suillcient inter-electrode leakage to prevent the grid from accmnulating a negative charge and blocking the tube. If difficulty is experienced in this regard it may be necessary to provide an external leak for the grid in the well known manner.

Variations of current in the photo-cell will then cause variations of potential across the resistor 61 and thus control the output from anode 59 of triode 56 in the usual way.

There is ordinarily suiiicient light available to operate the photo-cell, but if there is not, a source of light such as the electric bulb 15 may be placed in front of the light tunnel as indicated in Figure 4.

'I'he control grids 14 of successive tubes are similarly controlled through the blocking condensers 16, and the signal is amplified suciently to operate the relay. 'I'he coil 41 is connected by the conductors 11 and 'I8 into the output circuit of triode 54 and completes the circuit whereby the closing of the light tunnel 23 by the arm '6 decreases the current in coil 41 and permits the contactor 49 to fall onto the terminals 48 and 5I.

By using a more sensitive relay a circuit of the type shown in Figure 9 may be employed, in which a grid glow tube is used in place of the amplifier 53. Here the emitting element 8I of the photo-cell 24 is connected to the control grid 82 of the grid glow tube 80. The anodes 84 and to a terminal of the coil 41 of the relay. The

other terminal of the coil is connected to a terminal of the output coil 81 of a suitable supply transformer which in turn is connected tothe cathode 88 of the grid glow tube. Power is supplied to the primary coil 89 of the transformer from a suitable source through the leads 9I and 92.

This circuit operates in a manner analogous to that already described as the passage of current in the photo-cell may be caused to initiate or stop the flow of current in the grid glow tube and thus control the gate II through the medium of the solenoid actuated trip and relay previously described and shown in Figure 1.

It greatly facilitates the checking and accountancy work pertaining to parcelling bulk materials if the weighing scales can also perform the function of integrating or totalling the amount of material passing over them. This highly desir..

able result is accomplished by means of a mecha.- nism now to be described.

Actuating force for the counting mechanism is derived from the scales through the medium of an arm 94 fixed on shaft 3 of the scales to support and actuate a spur gear segment 96 held on its outer end. This scale actuated gear 98 is meshed with a gear 91 xed on a shaft 98 journaled in bearing 99. On the end of shaft 98 is slidably mounted the armature I| of a magnetic clutch disposed to engage the electro-magnet |02 when the surrounding coil |03 is energized, but normally held out of engagement by the springs |04. 'Ihe magnet |02 is fixed on a shaft |05 which operates a suitable counting device |06 and partial revolution indicating dial |01.

If this counting mechanism were connected to the scales during the forward movement thereof, the resulting friction would introduce irregular errors for which it would be difficult to compensate. Accordingly the magnetic coupling |0| |02 is open during the accessive movement of the scales and does not close until the scales have come to rest after weighing a parcel of material, then, when the parcel is removed, the 'counting mechanism is operated by the retrogressive movement of the scale.

Such operation of the magnetic clutch or coupling IDI-|02 is preferably accomplished automatically in time with the operation of the gate through suitable mechanism such as the switch identified by the general reference numeral |08. One terminal of coil |03 on the clutch is connected through a lead |09 to one lead 52 of the source of power. The other terminal of coil |03 is connected to the other lead 44 of the source of power through a path comprising a conductor a movable switch contactor I|2,' a fixed contactor I I3 and a conductor II4.

The engagement of contactors II2 and ||3 is effected by the gate through the medium of an arm I6 pivotally mounted in a bracket' ||1 fixed on a base ||8 of the switch |08. Contact ||2 is fixed on arm ||8 in a position -to engage contact |I3 fixed on base ||8, when arm ||8 is pressed downward by gate It is to be noted that the various parts are so placed and proportioned that the switch does not begin to function until the flow from chute or spout 9 is completely shut oil by gate I, and that a further delay is provided so that there is ample time for all of the dribble to fall into the receptacle and the scales to come to rest before the integrating device is connected.

This delay is provided by a retarding device comprising a cylinder 9 fixed on base I I8 and having a piston |2| slidably mounted therein. 'I'his piston is connected to arm ||6 by a suitable link |22 and thus resists the downward movement of the arm by an amount dependent upon the compression beneath the piston.

In order that the compression in the cylinder and hence the rapidity of motion of arm ||6 may be regulated, a petcock |23 is screwed into the cylinder wall adjacent the bottom thereof to provide means for regulating the speed of the air escape from the cylinder. Downward movement of the piston is further retarded by a helical spring |24 inserted in the cylinder beneath the piston to provide the retractive force for arm I6 and the contactor.

To use this apparatus an operator places a receptacle 8 on the scales and raises the gate until sear 3| catches finger 29. Material then flows into the receptacle from the spout or chute 9 until the pointer 6 covers light tunnel 23. This decreases the icurrent in coil 41 and permits contactor 49 to close the circuit through solenoid 39 and release the sear. Gate II immediately drops across the outlet of the chute and stops the flow. It strikes arm I I6, however, before it has reached the limit of its travel and presses that member down at a rate determined by the setting of petcock |23. Ihis is so adjusted that as soon as the scales have come to rest at the true weight contact is made between the contactors |I2 and II3 and the resultant current in coil |03 pulls the armature I0| against the electro-magnet |02. Then when the filled receptacle 8 is removed from the scales the resulting retrogressive movement thereof operates the count-- ing or totalling mechanism to record the true weight of that particular parcel. When gate II is again lifted to ll the next parcel spring |24 separates contactors 2 and I|3 which releases clutch |0|I02 so that the counting or totalling mechanism does not interfere with the operation of the scales during the weighing operation.

A variant amplifying circuit for the photoelectric signal is shown in Figure 6. This arrangement is particularly useful in conjunction with the slow closing gate of Figure 10, or the screw conveyor of Figure 8. The operation of this circuit depends upon the performance of a thyatron tube |26, which has an anode |21, a control screen |28, a cathode |29 within the screen, and a heating element |3| for energizing the cathode. The heating element |3| is supplied with electric current from a secondary winding |32 of a transformer |33 having a primary coil |34 excited from a suitable source of alternating current |36.

A high tension secondary coil |31 has its midpoint connected to the cathode by a conductor |38, an outer terminal connected to the anode |21 through a motor |39 and a switch |4|, and two opposed and variable outer taps |42 and |43 connected to the control grid |28 through a condenser |44 and a photo-electric cell 24 respectively.

Unlike many types of tubes relying upon an ionic discharge for their operation, the discharge of a thyatron tube is not extinguished by the control element charge. All the control element does is to fix the time of beginning of the flow of current from the anode within each positive half cycle. Once established such a flow maintains itself until the anode potential is no longer positive.

By referring to Figure 6 it can be seen that the photo-cell 24 controls the escape of electrons from the control grid |28, and it is also apparent that the phase and amount of potential across the photo-cell is determined by the setting of the variable taps |42 and |43, and the capacity of condenser |44. These values may be selected so that for a given variation of light intensity on the photo-cell a given variation of output from the anode may be obtained, and such a variation of output may be used to vary the speed of a motor or to start and stop it, or to control a relay, if desired.

In Figure 8 motor |39 is shown driving a screw conveyor |46 through suitable gears |41 and |48. Bulk material flows into the conveyor from a hopper |49, and flows from the conveyor, preferably over a restraining lip |I, into the receptacle 8 on the scales. tacle on the scales beneath the lip |5| the operator closes switch |4I and motor |39 starts the Having placed an empty recepconveyor, which begins to discharge material into the receptacle. The weight of this material on the scales swings the Iarm 6 as shown in Figure 7, to the left until a pointed tab |52 on arm 6 begins to shut light from the tunnel 23. This decrease of light effects the photo-cell and thyatron tube so that the motor and hence conveyor |46 slow down. As the tab I 52 shuts oif more and more light the motor slows down accordingly until there is but a very slight dribble of material over lip I5| and the parcel is very slowly brought to precisely the desired weight.

It is thus possible to operate the conveyor at its maximum speed during the major portion of the loading and'then slow it down for a few seconds only, while the final adjustment is being made. The errors in weight, if any, of the individual parcels formed in this mannerare so small that commercial scales do not detect them. However, if a check is desired a counting or integrating apparatus similar to that of Figure 1 may also be used in conjunction with this embodiment.

The slow closing gate construction is illustrated in Figure 10, in which the motor I 39 closes the gate II through the medium of spur gears |53 and |51. Motor |39 may be a torque motor controlled as in Figures 6 and 7 to hold the gate open against the action of gravity, or a spring, and then let it close slowly when the tab |52 shuts oif the light. I prefer however to have the motor apply its force to close the gate positively as shown.

In order to accomplish this a special shape is given the outer end of arm 6 as shown in Figure 1l. Here the tab portion |58 normally closes the light tunnel 23, and a suitable stop is provided for the scales to prevent the arm 6 from returning toward zero and uncovering the tunnel when the load is removed from the scales. As an example of such a stop I have. shown, in Figure 10, the brackets |59 fixed on the scale 2 and supporting the adjustable screws |60 which bear against the load platform |6| of the scales. By adjusting these set screws the tab |58 may be placed over light tunnel 23 in any position on the scale.

When the load in receptacle 8 on the scale exceeds a pre-selected amount the arm 6 begins to move and brings an aperture |62 in tab |58 over the light tunnel 23. This starts motor |39 and the gate II is closed, fairly rapidly at first as the wide` portion of aperture I 62 is over tunnel 23, and then more slowly as the cut-01T point is reached and the converging portion |63 of the aperture begins to shut oi light from tunnel 23. In this arrangement switch I4| is caused to open the motor circuit when the gate is completely closed and is shown in Figure 10 as comprising a terlminal |64 supported by a suitable insulating clock |66 on chute 9, and a terminal |61 supported by an insulating block |68 on a rearwardly projccting portion of gate and slidably engaging terminal |64. Terminal |61 is connected to motor |39 through a lead |69, and terminal |64 f is connected to anode |21 of the thyatron through anism with this type of control itis necessary toY extend the tab |58 so thatv arm 6 may return to zero each time the load is removed from the scales.

Gate II is locked for rotation with gear |51 by a pawl |12 pivotally mounted on the gate.` This pawl may be manually operated through thel medium of a link |13 interconnecting it with a lever |14 pivotally supported on a pin |16 adjacent the outer end of the gate. Lever |14 is preferably bent around so that it is juxtaposed a handgrip |11 xed on the gate to form a convenient means for operating the pawl.

A spring |18 interposed between the hand-grip and the lever holds the pawl engaged with'gear |51, and a friction washer |19 held on the end of pinion I3 by a nut I8| presses against bracket I2 to hold thegear and hence the gate in position when the motor is not in operation.

I claim:

1. An apparatus lfor parcelling bulk materials comprising, a weighing device having a movable element, a mechanical conveyor for discharging material onto the device, electrically actuated driving means for the conveyor, a source of electric energy, means controlling the ow of electricity to said electrically actuated driving means, and a light sensitive cell associated with said movable element and said electricity flow control means to variably actuate said control means for gradually stopping the conveyor asa pre-selected weight of parcel is reached.

2. An apparatus for parcelling bulk materials comprising, a weighing device having a movable element, a chute for directing material onto the weighing device, a gate for closing the chute, electrically actuated closing means for the gate, a source of electric energy. means controlling the flow of electricity to said electrically actuated means, and a light sensitive cell associated with said movable element and said electricity flow control means to variably actuate said control means for gradually closing the gate as a preselected weight of parcel is reached.

3. In combination, a weighing device having a movable element, means for feeding material to be weighed onto said device, means for regulating the flow of material to the weighing device, and

light sensitive means associated with the movable element of the weighing device for actuating the flow regulating means to gradually cut off the ow of material to the weighing device as a predetermined weight is being reached.

4. In combination, a weighing device having a movable element, a duct for feeding material to be weighed onto said device, a gate on the duct for regulating the flow of material through the duct, gate actuating means, and light sensitive means associated with the movable element of the weighing device and controlling said gate actuating means for gradually closing the gate as a predetermined weight is being reached.

5. In combination, a weighing device having a movable element, a conveyor for feeding material to be weighed onto said device, means for moving the conveyor, and light sensitive means associated with the movableelement of the weighing device for controlling the conveyor moving means to gradually slow down the conveyor movement as a predetermined weight is being reached. 

